Shaft-guard.



w.1. PERKINS. SHAFT GUARD.

APPLICATION F| LED DEC.24, 190 9- RENEWED JUNEB, 1912- LWQAMQ Patented May1L-1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO \vAsmNcyoN, n. u

UNITE STATES PATNT @FFIQE.

WILLIS J. PERKINS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

SHAFT-GUARD.

Application filed December 24, 1909, Serial No. 534,849.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIS J. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft- Guards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in shaft guards.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an improved shaft guard which is economical and efficient and protects the shaft in whole or in part throughout its length, and certain parts carried thereby or attached thereto. Second, to provide an improved shaft guard which can be quickly and easily applied to a shaft without removing the shaft from its supports or bearings, and is readily adapted to any length or diameter of shaft.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the-detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The structure described constitutes one effective embodiment of my invention. Other embodiments could be readily devised by those skilled in the art.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure constituting an effective and preferred embodiment of the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a detail elevation of a structure embodying the features of my invention, parts being broken away to better show details. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, taken on a line corresponding to line H of Fig. 1, showing a supporting collar between sections of the spiral guard. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, through one of the guard collars, taken on a line corresponding to line 77 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail View, showing the method of applying the cushioning layer to the shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail view of my improved guard, shown with out collar supports.

In the drawings, similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Renewed June 3, 1912. Serial No. 701,429.

Referring to the drawing, 1 reperesents a shaft having my improved guard thereon, sections of the shaft being illustrated. Pulleys 2 and 2 are shown upon the shaft, each pulley being secured by means of a key 3 arranged in a key-seat 4%, as is common practice.

My improved shaft guard preferably consists of a spiral coil 5 of steel ribbon, which is arranged upon the shaft loosely so that the shaft is free to revolve independently thereof. The end turns of the coil 5 may be embraced and supported by collars 6, illustrated in the drawing. These collars are loosely mounted upon the shaft so that the shaft revolves independently thereof. The end of the coil may be riveted and the collar omitted as described hereinafter.

For convenience in assembling, the collars 6 are split longitudinally and provided with circumferential flanges 8, between which are ears 9 adapted to receive the screw 10 so that the collars can be readily placed upon the shaft when the shaft is in position. A flange 7 is on the collar and embraces and holds the end of the spiral guard. On the end of the collar next to the pulley hub or collar, I provide a flange 7 which loosely embraces the same. WVhen the collar is placed between pulley hubs close together, flanges 7 are on both ends. Where the shaft is of such length as to require a plurality of the guard coils, 5, I preferably provide collars 6 at intermediate points with a flange 7 on each side to embrace the ends of adjacent coils, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The guard may be put on in inde pendent sections where the conditions ren der it advisable. Where it is desired to prevent noise, I provide the shaft with a cushion covering 11 inside of the guard. This covering is preferably a strip or ribbon of fabric wound upon the shaft, spirally,see Fig. 4,and coated with asphalt or the like.

To apply the covering, I first preferably coat the shaft with asphalt or any suitable adhesive material and wind the fabric there on, the fabric being in the form of a spirally-wound strip, and then apply an outer coating of asphalt or suitable material. This secures the fabric to the shaft and forms an effective cushioning or silencing device for the guard. By applying an outer coating of asphalt or suitable material, the edges of the strip are covered and by Winding the strip forming the guard coil thereon and providing the split or longitudinally-divided collars, as described, or otherwise protecting the terminals. The coils may be made of any length or number of sections to meet the particular requirements so that it is not necessary to make the same to any size or length, the only parts necessary to make the proper size being the collars, when collars are used.

I My improved shaft guard may be applied to the end of a shaft by placing a collar 1' thereon, and providing a flange 7, which extends over the said collar, thereby protecting the same,see Fig. 1. This is especially desirable, where the end of the shaft is unsupported. Any shaft, however, is usually supported at the end, as shown extending into a suitable box in a hanger 24, here shown conventionally.

After winding the guard strip upon the shaft, the collars when used are applied, as illustrated, a double flange collar being preferably used where it is necessary or desirable to use a plurality of the guard coils.

It is evident that the coils may be made I any length desired, the length being regulated according to the particular require-' ments or conditions. Sections can be supported by double collars, as appears in Fig. 1. The supporting collars may be omitted and the spiral secured by riveting or securing its end. (See Fig. 5.) The riveted or secured end forms a collar 5 integral with the spiral guard and forms a complete bearing. It is the full equivalent of the collar 6 and is properly regarded as a collar, and, as indicated above, is the preferred form when an extra supplemental collar is used.

7 Where pulleys are close togethersee Fig. 1.the collars 6 may be used'without the spiral, with a flange 7 at each end.

My improved guard is very economical in cost of material and very economically applied. Further, it may be shipped or transported in a form which occupies a minimum space and is of convenient form to assemble. While a flat or ribbon wire or tape-like strip is preferred by me, a round wire is quite satisfactory. I am aware of the fact that there are many flexible shaftings which are revoluble within a spiral casing. The casing itself is fixed in the relation to the shaft and does not revolve with it. Such a structure is exemplified in United States Letters Patent No. 486,852 of November 29, 1892, to G. H. Goates, for flexible shaft. I do not regard these properly as shaft guards or as comparable with my device which is solely for the protection of the shaft and not to support and guide the same. In my structure, the shaft, it will be noted, is illustrated as substantially longitudinally inflexible and therefore diflers from these socalled flexible shafts.

I have illustrated and described my improved guard in detail in the form in which I have embodied it in practice, as I find that form to be efficient and satisfactory. I am, however, aware that it can be considerably varied in structural details, and I wish to be understood as not only claiming the invention in the specific form illustrated, but also broadly, as appears in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is o 1. In a structure of the class described,

the combination with the shaft, of sections of spiral coil arranged loosely thereon; collars having laterally-projecting annular flanges embracing the ends of said coil sections, the intermediate collars being provided with a pair of the laterally-projecting annular flanges embracing the adjacent ends of the coil sections, all said parts loosely embracing and freely revoluble on said shaft; and a cushion layer on said shaft within said coil.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with the shaft, of sections of spiral coil arranged loosely thereon; collars having, laterally-projecting annular flanges embracing the ends of said coil sections, the intermediate collars being provided with a pair of the laterally-projecting annular flanges embracing the adj acentends embracing and freely revoluble on said shaft.v V

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a substantiallystraight rigid shaft and bearings therefor, of an independently revoluble guard, comprising a spiral coil closed into complete circles forming bearings for saidguard atthe ends thereofsaid guard being loosely and revolubly mounted on said shaft, whereby the shaft is freely revoluble within said guard and said guard is adapted to normally re volve with said shaft and is free to revolve on said shaft and relative to said shaft and said bearings when'functioning as a guard.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

wiLLis J. PERKINS. L. s.]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latent, Washington, D. G. 

